Warrior Met Coal Awarded Federal Coal Leases
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 13 2026
0mins
Should l Buy HCC?
Warrior Met Coal "announce that its subsidiaries, Warrior Met Coal Mining, LLC and Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC, have been awarded federal coal leases by the Bureau of Land Management, enabling the expansion of its mining operations in Alabama. The leases were granted through BLM's competitive Lease By Application process and signed by Secretary Doug Burgum today. The LBA process highlights the Trump Administration's priorities included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as well as the efforts of the National Energy Dominance Council. Special recognition to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum for visiting the Warrior Met Coal operations and seeing first-hand the impact on the community, the State of Alabama, and the metallurgical coal industry."
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Analyst Views on HCC
Wall Street analysts forecast HCC stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for HCC is 83.00 USD with a low forecast of 72.00 USD and a high forecast of 100.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
7 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 89.050
Low
72.00
Averages
83.00
High
100.00
Current: 89.050
Low
72.00
Averages
83.00
High
100.00
About HCC
Warrior Met Coal, Inc. is a producer and exporter of steelmaking coal, also known as hard coking coal (HCC), operating longwall operations in its underground mines based in Alabama. The Company’s two operating mines, Mine No. 4 and Mine No. 7, and Blue Creek are located approximately 300 miles from its export terminal at the Port of Mobile in Alabama. The Company sells its coal to a diversified customer base of blast furnace steel producers, primarily located in Europe, South America and Asia. The Company’s HCC, mined from the Southern Appalachian region of the United States, is characterized by low-to-high volatile matter (VM) and high coke strength after reaction (CSR). Mine No.7 operates two longwalls, while Mine No.4 runs a single longwall. Mine No. 4 and Mine No. 7 are located approximately 20 miles east of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and 30 miles southwest of Birmingham, Alabama.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
UBS Upgrades Warrior Met Coal to Buy with $108 Target
- Rating Upgrade: UBS upgraded Warrior Met Coal from Neutral to Buy, raising the price target from $100 to $108, indicating the company is entering an inflection point with compelling returns and margins.
- Project Progress: Analysts expect Warrior to deliver double-digit returns in H2 2026 as the Blue Creek steelmaking coal project ramps up, with further upside from a second longwall and rising coal prices not yet reflected in the market.
- Conservative Guidance: Warrior is expected to provide conservative guidance for its 2026 outlook in two weeks, but analysts see upside to 2026-27 consensus estimates supported by elevated prices and operational performance.
- Future Growth Potential: As Warrior delivers saleable tons at Blue Creek in H2 2026, investors will witness strong margins and returns outlook, leading analysts to anticipate further upside in share prices ahead of growth considerations for 2027 and beyond.
See More
Wall Street's Latest Ratings and Price Target Adjustments
- IBM Rating Reaffirmed: Bank of America raised IBM's price target from $335 to $340, driven by strong performance in infrastructure, transaction processing, and data growth, indicating the company's sustained competitiveness in the tech sector.
- Meta's Strong Performance: Bank of America reiterated its buy rating on Meta, citing a robust Q4 beat and a notably stronger Q1 outlook, highlighting the company's strong growth potential in the social media market.
- Tesla Competitive Risks: BMO downgraded First Solar to market perform due to competitive pressures from Tesla, particularly as the latter rapidly scales clean energy manufacturing capacity, which may impact First Solar's market positioning.
- Disney's Attractiveness: Deutsche Bank reiterated its buy rating on Disney, believing the current P/E multiple is at a historical trough, combined with a healthy multi-year earnings growth outlook, making it an attractive investment opportunity.
See More
Ramaco Resources (METC) Upgraded to Buy by Jefferies with $30 Price Target
- Rating Upgrade: Jefferies upgraded Ramaco Resources from Hold to Buy with a $30 price target, indicating a clear upside risk to consensus met coal price forecasts, which could drive the stock higher.
- Geopolitical Impact: The ongoing escalation of geopolitical risks related to critical minerals is viewed positively for Ramaco's stock, potentially boosting investor confidence and attracting more capital inflows.
- Performance Dependency: Significant upside in Ramaco's shares is contingent upon rising met coal prices and operational performance, alongside the successful development of the Brook Mine rare earth elements project to unlock long-term growth potential.
- Industry Outlook: Jefferies analysts express optimism for coal miners, reiterating Buy ratings on Warrior Met Coal, Core Natural Resources, and Peabody Energy, reflecting confidence in the overall sector and potential investment opportunities.
See More
Warrior Met Coal CEO Sells $10 Million in Shares, Reducing Holdings by 25.4%
- Insider Selling: Warrior Met Coal CEO Walter J. Scheller sold 100,000 shares on January 12 for $10 million, reducing his direct holdings to 294,183 shares valued at $29.5 million, indicating significant insider selling amid strong share price gains.
- Transaction Context: The sale was executed at an average price of $100.31, closely aligning with the January 12 market close of $100.20, suggesting that the executive capitalized on high stock prices to realize gains.
- Holding Analysis: The 100,000 shares sold represented 25.4% of Scheller's direct holdings; however, the transaction was conducted under a 10b5-1 trading plan, indicating it was prearranged and not a reflection of negative sentiment towards the company's prospects.
- Company Performance Overview: Warrior Met Coal's stock surged 98.7% over the past year, with total revenue reaching $1.2228 billion and net income of $35.2 million, highlighting the company's robust performance and competitive position in the global steel supply chain.
See More
Warrior Met Coal CEO Scheller Sells 100,000 Shares for $10 Million
- Insider Selling: Warrior Met Coal CEO Walter Scheller sold 100,000 shares on January 12, generating approximately $10 million, which represented 25.4% of his direct holdings, indicating significant insider selling amid strong stock price gains.
- Transparent Trading Plan: The sale was executed under a 10b5-1 trading plan, meaning it was prearranged rather than opportunistic, suggesting that investors should not interpret this as a lack of confidence in the company's prospects.
- Other Executives Selling: Chief Administrative Officer Kelli Gant also sold 10,000 shares under the same plan, reducing her stake to 70,580 shares, indicating a broader trend of insider selling among executives.
- Strong Stock Performance: Warrior Met Coal's shares delivered a total return of 79.5% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 17.2%, reflecting the company's competitive position in the international steel supply chain.
See More
Materials Stocks with A+ EPS Ratings: Investor Focus
- EPS Rating Upgrades: Companies like Constellium SE, Flotek Industries, and Fuchs SE have received the highest A+ EPS revision ratings from analysts, indicating growing market confidence in their profitability outlook, which may attract more investor attention.
- Strong Earnings Momentum: Warrior Met Coal and K+S Aktiengesellschaft also achieved A+ ratings, suggesting ongoing improvements in their profitability, which could drive stock price increases and enhance market competitiveness.
- Industry Trends: The A+ EPS revision ratings for Nexa Resources and Perimeter Solutions reflect an overall trend of earnings improvement within the materials sector, potentially encouraging institutional investors to increase their allocations to this industry.
- Investment Opportunities: The A+ ratings for Santacruz Silver Mining and Stora Enso Oyj further confirm the investment value of materials stocks, especially as the earnings season approaches, prompting investors to reassess their portfolios.
See More
UBS Upgrades Warrior Met Coal to Buy with $108 Target
- Rating Upgrade: UBS upgraded Warrior Met Coal from Neutral to Buy, raising the price target from $100 to $108, indicating the company is entering an inflection point with compelling returns and margins.
- Project Progress: Analysts expect Warrior to deliver double-digit returns in H2 2026 as the Blue Creek steelmaking coal project ramps up, with further upside from a second longwall and rising coal prices not yet reflected in the market.
- Conservative Guidance: Warrior is expected to provide conservative guidance for its 2026 outlook in two weeks, but analysts see upside to 2026-27 consensus estimates supported by elevated prices and operational performance.
- Future Growth Potential: As Warrior delivers saleable tons at Blue Creek in H2 2026, investors will witness strong margins and returns outlook, leading analysts to anticipate further upside in share prices ahead of growth considerations for 2027 and beyond.
See More
Wall Street's Latest Ratings and Price Target Adjustments
- IBM Rating Reaffirmed: Bank of America raised IBM's price target from $335 to $340, driven by strong performance in infrastructure, transaction processing, and data growth, indicating the company's sustained competitiveness in the tech sector.
- Meta's Strong Performance: Bank of America reiterated its buy rating on Meta, citing a robust Q4 beat and a notably stronger Q1 outlook, highlighting the company's strong growth potential in the social media market.
- Tesla Competitive Risks: BMO downgraded First Solar to market perform due to competitive pressures from Tesla, particularly as the latter rapidly scales clean energy manufacturing capacity, which may impact First Solar's market positioning.
- Disney's Attractiveness: Deutsche Bank reiterated its buy rating on Disney, believing the current P/E multiple is at a historical trough, combined with a healthy multi-year earnings growth outlook, making it an attractive investment opportunity.
See More
Ramaco Resources (METC) Upgraded to Buy by Jefferies with $30 Price Target
- Rating Upgrade: Jefferies upgraded Ramaco Resources from Hold to Buy with a $30 price target, indicating a clear upside risk to consensus met coal price forecasts, which could drive the stock higher.
- Geopolitical Impact: The ongoing escalation of geopolitical risks related to critical minerals is viewed positively for Ramaco's stock, potentially boosting investor confidence and attracting more capital inflows.
- Performance Dependency: Significant upside in Ramaco's shares is contingent upon rising met coal prices and operational performance, alongside the successful development of the Brook Mine rare earth elements project to unlock long-term growth potential.
- Industry Outlook: Jefferies analysts express optimism for coal miners, reiterating Buy ratings on Warrior Met Coal, Core Natural Resources, and Peabody Energy, reflecting confidence in the overall sector and potential investment opportunities.
See More
Warrior Met Coal CEO Sells $10 Million in Shares, Reducing Holdings by 25.4%
- Insider Selling: Warrior Met Coal CEO Walter J. Scheller sold 100,000 shares on January 12 for $10 million, reducing his direct holdings to 294,183 shares valued at $29.5 million, indicating significant insider selling amid strong share price gains.
- Transaction Context: The sale was executed at an average price of $100.31, closely aligning with the January 12 market close of $100.20, suggesting that the executive capitalized on high stock prices to realize gains.
- Holding Analysis: The 100,000 shares sold represented 25.4% of Scheller's direct holdings; however, the transaction was conducted under a 10b5-1 trading plan, indicating it was prearranged and not a reflection of negative sentiment towards the company's prospects.
- Company Performance Overview: Warrior Met Coal's stock surged 98.7% over the past year, with total revenue reaching $1.2228 billion and net income of $35.2 million, highlighting the company's robust performance and competitive position in the global steel supply chain.
See More
Warrior Met Coal CEO Scheller Sells 100,000 Shares for $10 Million
- Insider Selling: Warrior Met Coal CEO Walter Scheller sold 100,000 shares on January 12, generating approximately $10 million, which represented 25.4% of his direct holdings, indicating significant insider selling amid strong stock price gains.
- Transparent Trading Plan: The sale was executed under a 10b5-1 trading plan, meaning it was prearranged rather than opportunistic, suggesting that investors should not interpret this as a lack of confidence in the company's prospects.
- Other Executives Selling: Chief Administrative Officer Kelli Gant also sold 10,000 shares under the same plan, reducing her stake to 70,580 shares, indicating a broader trend of insider selling among executives.
- Strong Stock Performance: Warrior Met Coal's shares delivered a total return of 79.5% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 17.2%, reflecting the company's competitive position in the international steel supply chain.
See More
Materials Stocks with A+ EPS Ratings: Investor Focus
- EPS Rating Upgrades: Companies like Constellium SE, Flotek Industries, and Fuchs SE have received the highest A+ EPS revision ratings from analysts, indicating growing market confidence in their profitability outlook, which may attract more investor attention.
- Strong Earnings Momentum: Warrior Met Coal and K+S Aktiengesellschaft also achieved A+ ratings, suggesting ongoing improvements in their profitability, which could drive stock price increases and enhance market competitiveness.
- Industry Trends: The A+ EPS revision ratings for Nexa Resources and Perimeter Solutions reflect an overall trend of earnings improvement within the materials sector, potentially encouraging institutional investors to increase their allocations to this industry.
- Investment Opportunities: The A+ ratings for Santacruz Silver Mining and Stora Enso Oyj further confirm the investment value of materials stocks, especially as the earnings season approaches, prompting investors to reassess their portfolios.
See More
